Obama, Palin both descendants of long-gone Cape minister

Friday

SANDWICH — Move over Abraham Hoxie and the Rev. John Smith: The town may want to add two more names to its oldest house.

SANDWICH — Move over Abraham Hoxie and the Rev. John Smith: The town may want to add two more names to its oldest house.

Anastasia Harman, the lead family historian for Ancestry.com, says President Barack Obama and tea party favorite Sarah Palin are related — 10th cousins, to be exact — and their lineage can be traced to Smith, the Quaker sympathizer and second minister of Sandwich some believe should be included on the historic home's name. "We're always looking for ways to show people how family history can be interesting and surprising," Harman said Thursday. "I think it shows that even though they are on opposite sides, we all have something in common."

Harman originally made the historic link between the two political opposites back in 2010 just before the mid-term elections. The link to Sandwich went mostly unnoticed, except for Tom Garrahan, an East Sandwich man who likes to try to link his own family and friends to famous people, especially politicians, through genealogy.

"I knew there was a common ancestor between Obama and Palin, and I could smell it was someone on the Cape," he said. "I guess it proves you can pick your candidates, but you can't pick your relatives."

Town officials were surprised Thursday to learn of the Obama and Palin connection to the Cape's oldest town.

"You're kidding," said Frank Pannorfi, chairman of the board of selectmen. "I knew they were related, but to our Reverend Smith?"

Even town historian Jonathan Shaw had no idea. "I hadn't heard that, but isn't that terrific?" Shaw, a member of the Sandwich Historic Commission, said. The commission is exploring whether the 1675 house should be renamed to reflect Smith's role as the first occupant.

A lesser-known descendant of Smith's, Mason Smith of Maine, made the request that's under consideration and, ultimately, would require a vote of the selectmen.

The reverend's connection to Obama and Palin adds a twist to the name-change debate. He was the town's second congregational minister and the first occupant of the saltbox-style house that still overlooks Shawme Pond.

He came into town at a time when Quakers were "coming into their own," according to a history written by Shaw, and only agreed to serve as minister "providing that he would not be required to lift a hand against the Quakers."

Smith had previously been in Barnstable, according to several historical accounts, but left because his "pleadings for tolerance of Quakers" were not accepted there. He was married to Susannah Hinckley, the sister of Plymouth Colony Gov. Thomas Hinckley, and the couple had 13 children.

Smith served as minister in Sandwich from 1675 to 1689 and the house remained in his family for almost 200 years. It was acquired in 1860 by Abraham Hoxie, a whaling captain, and the house remained in the Hoxie family until the 1950s when the town took it over for nonpayment of taxes.

Since then, the house has remained under town control and is one of the featured attractions in Sandwich's historic village.

Town leaders have said they'll have to weigh carefully whether to add Smith's name because it would mean not only the expense of changing signs and other literature, but changing a culture that is accustomed to calling it the Hoxie House.

Garrahan said he likes the idea of the name change and perhaps attracting Obama and Palin to town for the rededication. "I think that would be a great idea," he said. "That would pay for it."

But would an Palin-Obama-Smith-Hoxie House draw more tourists to town? "Oh, gosh, I think it's fun to think about," Kate Bavelock, executive director of the Sandwich Chamber of Commerce, said with a laugh. "Genealogy is fascinating."

Pannorfi said he wouldn't vote to add the two politician's names, but said there is an acronym that might work. "We could call it the POSH House."

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